Masta Wu Explained

Masta Wu 마스타 우
Birth Name:	Woo Jin-won
Birth Date:	25 October 1978
Birth Place:	Seoul, South Korea
Origin:	Seoul, South Korea
Genre:	Hip hop
Occupation:	Rapper, composer
Years Active:	2000 - present
Label:	XYZ Entertainment YG Entertainment
Past Member Of:	YMGA, YG Family

Woo Jin-won (October 25, 1978), better known by his stage name Masta Wu (Korean: 마스타 우), is a South Korean rapper, songwriter and producer.^[1] His previous stage name was Ginnwon.^[2] He was also a part of the hip hop project duo YMGA.^[3]

Career

After being an underground rapper, Woo signed with YG Entertainment. He released his first album, Masta Peace in 2003,^[4] and his second album Brand Wu Year in 2007.^[5]

In 2014, he was one of the producers of the talent show Show Me The Money 3.^{[6] [7]}

He wrote several songs for his label-mates, for example project duo Hi Suhyun, solo singer Lee Hi and girl band 2NE1.^{[8] [9]} As of December 2023 he has 93 songs credited to his name at the Korea Music Copyright Association.^[10]

In 2016, he announced his departure from YG Entertainment to establish his own label.^[11]

In 2020, Masta Wu released the song "Romance" via his Soundcloud.^[12] The song served as a pre-release to his first extended play, Father.^[13]

In 2023, Masta Wu released a new single called "Water," announcing that he would be releasing his third full album later in the year.^[14]

Discography

Albums

• Masta Peace (2003)
• Brand Wu Year (2007)

EPs

• Father (2020)

Charted songs

Year	Title	Peak positions	Sales
		KOR
2007	"Don't Stop" (feat. Jinu)	43	1,261 (physical)^[15]
2014	"Come Here" (feat. Dok2, Bobby)	8^[16]	169,275+ (digital)^[17]
2016	"Yamaha"
2017	"Shit"^[18]
2023	"Water" (feat. Keith Ape)

External links

• Masta Wu Official Twitter

Notes and References

1. Web site: 마스타우 "6년 공백, 양현석 대표에게 서운하냐고요?". Yonhap. 2014-12-14. 2015-04-25. ko.
2. Web site: 고준희 마스타우, 열애설 부인 후 심야 데이트 장면 포착 '진실은?'. 3 October 2014 . ko. The Financial News. 2015-04-25.
3. Web site: Masta Wu. KBS World Radio. 2015-04-24.
4. Web site: Masta Wu to Release New Song in Six Years through YG Hip Hop Project 2. 2014-11-28. MWAVE. 2015-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518060655/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/81804/masta-wu-to-release-new-song-in-six-years-through-yg-hip-hop-project-2. 2015-05-18. dead.
5. Web site: 마스타우 솔직 고백 "무브먼트 디스, 악감정은 없었다". 2007-03-21. 2015-04-25. Newsen. ko.
6. Web site: Epik High′s Tablo, Masta Wu, San E, and Swings Confirmed for ′Show Me The Money 3′. MWAVE. 2015-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518060604/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/65639/rappers-confirm-for-program. 2015-05-18. dead.
7. Web site: Korean rappers Masta Wu, Dok2 and Bobby get surreal. Dazed. December 2014. 2015-04-25.
8. Web site: Hi Suhyun Talks Winning No.1, Yang Hyun Suk′s Training Style and More. MWAVE. 2015-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518055142/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/80815/interview-hi-suhyun-talks-winning-no1-yang-hyun-suks-training-style-and-more. 2015-05-18. dead.
9. Web site: 2NE1 Dazzles with "Gotta Be You" MV. 2014-05-21. MTV. 2015-04-24.
10. Web site: Songs Registered Under MASTA WU (W0726000). Korea Music Copyright Association. ko.
11. Web site: YG "최근 마스타우 떠났다, 향후 음악활동 응원" 공식입장. 2016-01-08. 2016-01-08. xsportsnews. ko.
12. Web site: 마스타 우, 신곡 'Romance' 깜짝 공개…김심야 피쳐링. XSports News. May 20, 2020.
13. Web site: 마스타우, 11일 EP ‘Father’ 발매..커버 깜짝 공개. Osen. July 29, 2020.
14. Web site: 마스타우, 신곡 '워터' 공개…정규 앨범 방향성 예고. Raon News. March 15, 2023.
15. Web site: 2007. 3 월 - 가요음반 판매량. https://web.archive.org/web/20090502004806/http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200703.htm. Music Industry Association of Korea. 2015-04-25. 2009-05-02.
16. Web site: Gaon Chart . Gaon Chart. ko . 2014-04-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142735/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=50&hitYear=2014&termGbn=week. 2015-04-02.
17. Cumulative digital sales of "Come Here" :
    • Web site: Gaon Download Chart November 30-December 6, 2014 (see #4). Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 13 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141210123904/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php?f_chart_kind_cd=T&f_week=50&f_year=2014&f_type=week. 2014-12-10.
    • Web site: Gaon Download Chart December 7-13 2014 (see #23). Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 19 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141218023440/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php?f_chart_kind_cd=T&f_week=51&f_year=2014&f_type=week. 2014-12-18.
    • Web site: Gaon Download Chart December 14-20 2014 (see #41). Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 25 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141225095429/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php?f_chart_kind_cd=T&f_week=52&f_year=2014&f_type=week. 2014-12-25.
18. Web site: 마스타우(MASTA WU) 신곡 'SHIT' 발매, 도끼 강력 지원 사격. Sports Seoul. January 26, 2017.